The president cannot reach out to a reckless opposition – Agyenim Boateng

Deputy Information Minister James Agyenim Boateng says whilst arguments that President John Mahama must be conciliatory and reach out to the opposition are sound, the opposition itself must be seen to be responsible.

“It is important,” he said, “to underscore the fact that you need to have a responsible opposition political party; it’s not enough to...say oh Mr. President reach out, reach out; reach out to who? Reach out to a reckless opposition?” he asked.

Mr Agyenim Boateng was responding to submissions by co-panelists Ursula Owusu, the New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament-elect for Ablekuma West and the Women Organiser of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Susan Adu Amakwah on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Friday.

Ms Owusu said it was important for the president to realise that for the time being (until the determination of the NPP’s petition by the Supreme Court) he as president was leading a deeply divided nation for which reason he must work to build bridges.

She said it was not enough for the president alone to be measured in his utterances; same standard must be demanded of his appointees as well.

The MP-elect insisted that President Mahama must demonstrate through his appointments that he was willing to bring moderates into his government - to minimise the acerbic tone for which some members of the current government are known - by sidelining such persons.

“I think that it is time for all of us a nation to realise that may be the Good Lord is speaking to us with the very close results we are getting from our elections; it is time to move away from extreme partisanship to extreme nationalism; if you are winning round 50 per cent of the vote in two consecutive elections that should tell you something (that the nation is divided),” she stated.

Mrs Adu Amakwah in her contribution said the President’s calm demeanour which has been his strength should transcend just his party to opposition leaders who are understandably bitter about their electoral loss.

“People are hurt, it may be rational, it may not be rational but the fact is that people feel they’ve robbed; I’m not justifying it but when people feel hurt – whether it is right or it is wrong – there should be that calming voice, there should be the soothing voice that will say “ok you are hurt, I am not about to even rationalise why you are hurt but I am recognising that you are hurt and I want you to get over it,” she added.

Dissenting, the Deputy Information Minister said the Constitutional requirement to be president was 50% plus one vote of all valid votes cast and that there was no need to burden the president with demands to bring everybody on board.

Posted in: